Mysterious
mewing leads
dean to find kitty mascot

The
School of Communications wasn't seeking a mascot, but now has one
that goes by the name Phoenix the Cat.

Dean Paul Parsons
was in his office over the Memorial Day weekend when he kept hearing
a cat meowing loudly. He assumed the cat was outside his office
window, so the dean simply turned up the volume on the radio. But
when the meowing continued for more than an hour, the dean went
outside, followed the meows but couldn't see a cat.

Then he peered
down into a grate and saw a white kitten about 15 feet below.

University
maintenance workers retrieved the kitten the next day, and School
of Communications administrative assistant Phyllis Phillips provided
milk and food and arranged for a veterinary checkup.

The kitten
was malnourished but otherwise fine, and now has both a name and
a permanent home. According to Phillips, Phoenix has a good personality
and enjoys batting around a plastic bottle cap as if in training
to be a hockey player.